4 'No more thou com'st, with lover's speed, Thy once beloved bride to see; But be she alive, or be she dead, I fear, stern Earl,'s the same to thee. 5 'Not so the usage I received When happy in my father's hall; No faithless husband then me grieved, No chilling fears did me appal. 6 'I rose up with the cheerful morn, No lark so blithe, no flower more gay; And, like the bird that haunts the thorn, So merrily sung the livelong day. 7 'If that my beauty is but small, Among court ladies all despised, Why didst thou rend it from that hall, Where, scornful Earl, it well was prized? 8 'And when you first to me made suit, How fair I was, you oft would say! And, proud of conquest, plucked the fruit, Then left the blossom to decay. 9 'Yes! now neglected and despised, The rose is pale, the lily's dead; But he that once their charms so prized, Is sure the cause those charms are fled. 10 'For know, when sickening grief doth prey, And tender love's repaid with scorn, The sweetest beauty will decay: What floweret can endure the storm? 11 'At court, I'm told, is beauty's throne, Where every lady's passing rare, That eastern flowers, that shame the sun, Are not so glowing, not so fair. 12 'Then, Earl, why didst thou leave the beds Where roses and where lilies vie, To seek a primrose, whose pale shades Must sicken when those gauds are by? 13 ''Mong rural beauties I was one; Among the fields wild-flowers are fair; Some country swain might me have won, And thought my passing beauty rare. 14 'But, Leicester, or I much am wrong, It is not beauty lures thy vows; Rather ambition's gilded crown Makes thee forget thy humble spouse. 15 'Then, Leicester, why, again I plead, The injured surely may repine, Why didst thou wed a country maid, When some fair princess might be thine? 16 'Why didst thou praise my humble charms, And, oh! then leave them to decay? Why didst thou win me to thy arms, Then leave me to mourn the livelong day? 17 'The village maidens of the plain Salute me lowly as they go: Envious they mark my silken train, Nor think a countess can have woe. 18 'The simple nymphs! they little know How far more happy's their estate; To smile for joy, than sigh for woe; To be content, than to be great. 19 'How far less blessed am I than them, Daily to pine and waste with care! Like the poor plant, that, from its stem Divided, feels the chilling air. 20 'Nor, cruel Earl! can I enjoy The humble charms of solitude; Your minions proud my peace destroy, By sullen frowns, or pratings rude. 21 'Last night, as sad I chanced to stray, The village death-bell smote my ear; They winked aside, and seemed to say, "Countess, prepare--thy end is near."